Perth mum on trail for healthier food

That was the simple question Julie Eady asked herself after the birth of her first child six years ago.

A family history of asthma and allergies prompted Ms Eady to start researching the health effects of more than 300 food additives in an effort to protect her newborn daughter from the same fate.

But what began as a personal health project led into a much bigger challenge as she discovered the truth about the serious health concerns associated with many additives used in Australia.

Today, the young Perth mother of two has become a leading consumer advocate on food additives and has self-published a best-seller on the subject.

Additive Alert ? Your Guide to Safer Shopping has generated an enormous amount of interest among consumer and parent groups and has already sold more than 30,000 copies.

The book details how many common health problems are associated with additives and how dramatically food additives are affecting our health and in particular the health and behaviour of children.

"I was horrified to learn more than 30 additives not considered safe in the USA, the UK and most of Europe are still legally used in Australia," Ms Eady said.

"If something is banned in these other countries because of links to cancer, I don't want to eat it nor do I want to feed it to my children, and I think most consumers and parents would be the same."

Due to demand for the information, she now conducts a program of public speaking to schools, community and professional groups, campaigning for better awareness of tighter regulation of food additives in Australia.

Ms Eady also lobbies manufacturers to stop using food additives which are known to cause problems, especially additives banned overseas.

Ms Eady is currently visiting her husband Stuart's family at Kingscliff. While here, she will present a free talk on food additives on Tuesday April 4 at the Kingscliff Amenities Centre at 6.30pm.